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Christians; and if we find that the methodists recommend purity of life, strictness of morals, and a regular discharge of the duties of society, are they to be branded as hypocrites because they abstain from its amusements and its vanities? Were the number of methodists to be multiplied by an hundred, there would remain enough behind to fill the theatres and encourage the fine arts. Respecting the remarkable person by whom the sect was founded, posterity has done him justice for the calumnies with which he was persecuted during his life, and which he bore with enduring fortitude.

The poverty in which Whitfield died, proved his purity of heart, and refuted the charge so grossly urged of his taking a selfish interest in the charitable subscriptions which his eloquence promoted so effectually, (for providence uses in accomplishing great ends, the imperfections as well as the talents of his creatures.) He served to awaken to a consciousness of their deplorable state, thousands to whose apathy and ignorance a colder preacher might have spoken in vain ; and perhaps, even the church of England herself, has been less impaired by the schism than benefitted by the effects of emulation upon her learned clergy.

A new edition is preparing in an octavo form, of Bayle's Historical and Critical Dictionary :-this wonderful performance will be superintended in the course of publication by able editors, who have added much to the stores of learning and research amassed by Bayle. D'Israeli in his second series of the Curiosities of Literature, has a most instructive article upon this work.

Bayle's Dictionary is a very useful work for those to consult who love the biographical part of literature, which is what I love most.

Dr. Johnson.

Literary Industry.

FLORIAN.

This delightful author is well known to those who have perused with pleasure his Galatea, his Estella, and Gonsalvo de Cordova, and above all his Numa Pompilius; the latter work is generally considered merely a brilliant effort of a lively imagination, and we are very sure, therefore, the public supposed that he had read hundreds of volumes expressly to compose it.

Amongst his papers, however, was the following, as memoranda of its composition:

WORKS NECESSARY FOR NUMA.

PLUTARCH. Read the History of Romulus, Numa, Lycurgus, Solon, Coriolanus, Timoleon, and Paulus Emilius.

The ILIAD. The enumeration of the army of Agamemnon, to make that of the Marsi, the Romans, &c. Imitate the parting of Andromache and Hector. Imitate the nocturnal adventures of Ulysses and Diomedes. Diomede wounded, speaking to Paris. Give a similar speech、 to Leo. Imitate the combat of Achilles aud Xanthus, making Leo combat in a lake. Priam, or the Camp of Achilles, an admirable moral, a model of pathos, to imitate it if possible. Honour the funeral of Tullus or Tatius by games, as in book 23.

The THEBAID. Read the enumeration of the Greek army. The mother who will follow her son to the wars, all book 4. The combat of Capanius, and the Pupil of Pollux. The combat of Hippomedon. The description of Parthenope, her beauty, graces, naivetè, and death. The episode of Hiplea and Dinas.

The ARANCANA. Canto 1. The manners of the savages, to give to the Marsi. 6. Beautiful-defeat to imitate. 10. The games to imitate. 11. The horse or the falcon which waited the signal, beautiful comparisons. 13. The episode of Lautaire and Gualolde asleep. 14. The warrior who threw away his hand cut off, and fought with the other. 15. Single combat of André and de Rengo, to imitate for Numa and Leo. 20. The episode of Segnalde, who seeks her hus

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band's body. 21. The review, to imitate for the Marsi. The episode of the sea-monsters. 23. Beautiful scene of Magic. 25. Two enemies who fly to each other's aid, very noble. 29. Fine combats of Zumpel and Rengo, to imitate.

The ENEID. Book 4. The ardent love of Dido, to imitate for Hersilia. 5. The games. 7. Ausonia taking arms, the names of the nations, &c. 9. The discourse of Numanus, to give to the chief of the Marsi.

SILIUS ITALICUS. Canto 1. The portrait of Hannibal, superb to imitate for Romulus. 2. The episode of Astryte killed for Theron, good for Hersilia. 3. The passage of the Alps, superb, to imitate in the 5th book of Numa. 4. Preparations for war at Rome, fine morsel, to emulate for the 2d book. The enumerations of the army of Varro, the names of the nations. 9. The beginning of the late battle Cannæ.

QVID. Apollo, shepherd.. Philemon and Baucis.

TELEMACHUS. Old Eumeus, description of Boetica.
The GEORGICS. The two last Cantos.

The DEATH OF ABEL. His obsequies.

DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. The marriage of Daphnis.

PARADISE LOST. The picture of Adam and Eve.
The MORALS OF PYTHAGORAS.

PHARSALIA. Open the book at random to find grand ideas.

JERUSALEM DELIVERED. Re-peruse often this admirable poem.

ORLANDO FURIOSO. Model of imagination and grace, every thing in it is remarkable.

JOSEPH, (by Bitaube). A charming work.

The HENRIADE. Superb. Canto

107

Libraries of Useful Knowledge.

-Not to know at large of things remote
From use, obscure, and subtle, but to know
That which before us lies in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom; what is more is fume,
Or emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern,
Unpractis'd, unprepared, and still to seek.

Paradise Lost, b. 8.

The rapid extension of Mechanics' Institutes, and the general diffusion of education among the lower classes, has attracted the attention of men of talent in the various departments of human knowledge, to the production of a series of books adapted to the wants of this numerous portion of society. Every chasm that formerly existed in our literature they seem ready to fill up by cheap and interesting compilations: it has been objected to this plan, that it will tend to destroy works of a more comprehensive character, and diminish their probable sale. The objection falls to the ground, if we consider in how very few cases does the immense toil of an elaborate work of science repay from its sale the industry and application of the author, when by lowering the price and form to a more humble and extensive class of purchasers, he may not only derive fame, but adequate remu. neration. It would be easy to adduce the value of a copyright of some simple school book, upon which, perhaps, little pains or talent has been required in its production; more probably by the aid of paste and scissars than by any other means, and yet what fortunes have they not produced when they have obtained an introduction into schools.

Long before the announcement of these publications, it has often surprised me that men of great eminence in their various professions did not combine their efforts to produce a series of elementary works, which should apply to every branch of education, more particularly

for the middle and higher classes. The influence of their names would carry public opinion in their favour, and overwhelm any opposition that might be shown by those wholesale houses, which now possess a large capital in the copyright of many of our trumpery school books. The public would feel a confidence that these books possessed the highest order of merit, and having the stamp of their authority, would readily find access to our principal schools; on the contrary, by the present system we often find books of very inferior merit puffed and forced into notice, from the publisher having at his command a large capital and extensive influence, whilst works of much higher merit have gone into the shade from the want of such aid. If a disposition was mani fested on the part of such individuals to engage in this undertaking, they would not find it difficult to meet with a bookseller of sufficient capital, unshackled by the trammels of trade copyright, which I scruple not to say, has been the bane of English literature, forming an unjust monopoly, that has deprived the author of his fair reward, has enhanced the price of books to the public, and kept back that state of improvement which our standard literature, under a more wholesome system, would have exhibited.

What, for example, could not the name of Sir Walter Scott achieve, were he to condescend to wield his powerful and brilliant pen in this household department of literature? and it would not be difficult to calculate that his gain might even far exceed that of some of his most successful novels. It is not alone in this branch of literature the increasing demand, but the actual wear and tear annually suffering. It not unfrequently occurs that two or more copies are required to each pupil, before the course of instruction is terminated.

CONSTABLE'S MISCELLANY.

The first in order of announcement is that of Constable's; and here I cannot but regret that the suitable and convenient form of post oc- tavo was not adopted: the size is decidedly too small: it would also have been better to have first published each work complete, which might, for the convenience of those whose means are scanty, be also sold in weekly numbers. A larger class of purchasers would have been obtained, had this plan been carried into execution. The bill of fare is, however, extremely interesting and well chosen.

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